Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow
Encyclopedia
"Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow" is the fifth episode of the fifth season
of the animated television series South Park
, and the 70th episode of the series overall. "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow" originally aired on July 18, 2001 on Comedy Central
. In the episode, the four boys learn that their idols, Terrance and Phillip, have split over credit issues. They try to get them back together in time for an upcoming festival, or else face death.
is watching the Terrance and Phillip Show with Stan
, Cartman
and Kenny
, but it is a rerun. They are upset and complain, but an ad for a live show featuring Terrance and Philip at the Denver Coliseum
airs. They become excited to see the show, but at school the next morning, they realize that they will not be able to go because Earth Day
is only a short time away, and three environmentalists who care about Earth Day brainwash people into believing what they say. Kyle, who got tickets for the foursome, eventually comes up with the idea of Terrance and Phillip performing at the Earth Day show, and everyone else agrees.
The day of the performance comes, and everyone who attends is shocked to find out that not only has Terrance become morbidly obese, but Phillip is not with him. Instead, there is a stand-in who performs with him, much to everyone's dismay. The boys demand to know what happened between the two performers, and Terrance tells them that he and Phillip have disbanded due to creative problems. They are in fact arguing over who deserves most of the credit for their show. Terrance informs the boys that Phillip is currently in Toronto
, performing Canadian Shakespeare
, but with or without him, he is willing to perform. The boys tell everyone at the Earth Day show about this issue. The environmentalists become violently angry, as they have already heavily promoted the appearance. The boys are told to go to Canada
immediately to convince Phillip to perform, or face the consequences. The foursome travel to Toronto to see his performance in Hamlet, which they find exceptionally dull. They inform Phillip of the Earth Day show after the play ends, but he initially refuses when they mention Terrance will be in it. Kyle lies and tells Phillip that the people of South Park only want to see Phillip anyway, and not Terrance. This placates him and he agrees to come, but all four boys worry about what will happen when they both come across each other at the festival and begin to argue.
The boys try to explain the problem to the environmentalists, but they do not care. They instead threaten to kill them and chop off Kenny’s left arm with a butcher knife. Reluctantly, Terrance and Phillip agree to work together. During their rehearsal, they begrudgingly do a routine, which eventually boils down into an argument until they both leave in a huff. After the environmentalists chop Kenny's right arm off, the boys work together and present the audience with a documentary of Terrance and Phillip's rise and fall. While they are fascinated, the environmentalists become largely convinced that the boys’ film is destroying the Earth, and they chase them, eventually chopping off Kenny's left leg. Terrance and Phillip watch the video from different viewpoints, and when they leave the festival, they come across each other and reconcile.
The environmentalists corner the boys, chop off Kenny's right leg (rendering him completely limbless), and try to kill them, but seeing Terrance and Phillip perform together convinces them to stop. This thrills everyone, including Kenny, who, by that point in severe pain, is nevertheless still alive.
" in which that episode was shown instead of the conclusion of "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut
", which angered many South Park fans. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
was referenced twice in the episode also, once when Kyle claims to have saved Terrance and Phillip's lives, and a second time when actual footage from the movie was shown during the screening of "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow". Also in the episode Cartman threatens to make Phillip eat his parents, in reference to the previous episode "Scott Tenorman Must Die
".
South Park (season 5)
Season five of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on June 20, 2001. The fifth season concluded after 14 episodes on December 12, 2001...
of the animated television series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, and the 70th episode of the series overall. "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow" originally aired on July 18, 2001 on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
. In the episode, the four boys learn that their idols, Terrance and Phillip, have split over credit issues. They try to get them back together in time for an upcoming festival, or else face death.
Plot synopsis
KyleKyle Broflovski
Kyle Broflovski is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by co-creator Matt Stone. Kyle is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
is watching the Terrance and Phillip Show with Stan
Stan Marsh
Stanley Randall "Stan" Marsh is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by and loosely based on series co-creator Trey Parker. Stan is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Cartman
Eric Cartman
Eric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
and Kenny
Kenny McCormick
Kenneth "Kenny" McCormick is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is one of the four central characters along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Eric Cartman. His oft-muffled and indiscernible speech—the result of his parka hood covering his...
, but it is a rerun. They are upset and complain, but an ad for a live show featuring Terrance and Philip at the Denver Coliseum
Denver Coliseum
Denver Coliseum is an indoor arena, owned by the City and County of Denver, operated by its Theatres and Arenas division and is located in Denver, Colorado...
airs. They become excited to see the show, but at school the next morning, they realize that they will not be able to go because Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
is only a short time away, and three environmentalists who care about Earth Day brainwash people into believing what they say. Kyle, who got tickets for the foursome, eventually comes up with the idea of Terrance and Phillip performing at the Earth Day show, and everyone else agrees.
The day of the performance comes, and everyone who attends is shocked to find out that not only has Terrance become morbidly obese, but Phillip is not with him. Instead, there is a stand-in who performs with him, much to everyone's dismay. The boys demand to know what happened between the two performers, and Terrance tells them that he and Phillip have disbanded due to creative problems. They are in fact arguing over who deserves most of the credit for their show. Terrance informs the boys that Phillip is currently in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, performing Canadian Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, but with or without him, he is willing to perform. The boys tell everyone at the Earth Day show about this issue. The environmentalists become violently angry, as they have already heavily promoted the appearance. The boys are told to go to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
immediately to convince Phillip to perform, or face the consequences. The foursome travel to Toronto to see his performance in Hamlet, which they find exceptionally dull. They inform Phillip of the Earth Day show after the play ends, but he initially refuses when they mention Terrance will be in it. Kyle lies and tells Phillip that the people of South Park only want to see Phillip anyway, and not Terrance. This placates him and he agrees to come, but all four boys worry about what will happen when they both come across each other at the festival and begin to argue.
The boys try to explain the problem to the environmentalists, but they do not care. They instead threaten to kill them and chop off Kenny’s left arm with a butcher knife. Reluctantly, Terrance and Phillip agree to work together. During their rehearsal, they begrudgingly do a routine, which eventually boils down into an argument until they both leave in a huff. After the environmentalists chop Kenny's right arm off, the boys work together and present the audience with a documentary of Terrance and Phillip's rise and fall. While they are fascinated, the environmentalists become largely convinced that the boys’ film is destroying the Earth, and they chase them, eventually chopping off Kenny's left leg. Terrance and Phillip watch the video from different viewpoints, and when they leave the festival, they come across each other and reconcile.
The environmentalists corner the boys, chop off Kenny's right leg (rendering him completely limbless), and try to kill them, but seeing Terrance and Phillip perform together convinces them to stop. This thrills everyone, including Kenny, who, by that point in severe pain, is nevertheless still alive.
South Park references
This episode parodied the episode "Terrance and Phillip in Not Without My AnusTerrance and Phillip in Not Without My Anus
"Terrance and Phillip in Not Without My Anus" is the second season premiere of the animated television series South Park, and the 14th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 1, 1998...
" in which that episode was shown instead of the conclusion of "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut
Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut
"Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" is the first season finale of the animated television series South Park, and the 13th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on February 25, 1998. It is part one of a two-episode story arc, which concluded with...
", which angered many South Park fans. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The film was directed by Parker, who also stars along with the rest of the regular voice cast from the series, including Stone, Mary...
was referenced twice in the episode also, once when Kyle claims to have saved Terrance and Phillip's lives, and a second time when actual footage from the movie was shown during the screening of "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow". Also in the episode Cartman threatens to make Phillip eat his parents, in reference to the previous episode "Scott Tenorman Must Die
Scott Tenorman Must Die
"Scott Tenorman Must Die" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 69th episode of the series overall. "Scott Tenorman Must Die" originally aired in the United States on July 11, 2001 on Comedy Central. English rock band Radiohead guest star in...
".
External links
- "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow" Episode guide at South Park Studios
- "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow" Full episode at South Park Studios